7 Health Benefits of Body Massage: What are the Advantages of Massage Therapy?

Introduction

Who doesn’t love a good massage? It’s one of the most relaxing experiences you can treat yourself to. But did you know it can also have a tangible, positive impact on your mental and physical well-being?

In this article, we will explore some of the health benefits of body massage and how it could improve your quality of life.

Health Benefits of Body Massage

1. Reduces Stress

If you’ve ever gotten a massage, you probably noticed that it relaxed you in the moment and left you feeling calmer for days afterward. That’s not just your imagination at work.

One of the biggest advantages of massage therapy is its ability to reduce stress. Massage achieves this by lowering levels of cortisol, the hormone released when we’re stressed, and by releasing endorphins, hormones that boost mood and promote relaxation. Massage also stimulates the release of two feel-good neurotransmitters: serotonin, a mood stabilizer, and dopamine, which is associated with pleasure.

In addition, massage activates the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which is responsible for the body’s “rest and digest” functions. Engaging the PNS helps counterbalance our stress response, inducing a state of relaxation. According to one study, just 10 minutes of massage can activate the PNS and create feelings of calm.

2. Alleviates Pain

Massage is a proven, effective way to reduce pain and discomfort, whether due to injury, chronic conditions, strenuous exercise, or stress. It achieves this by reducing muscle tension, improving circulation, deactivating neurons that send pain signals to the brain, and releasing endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers.

Through these mechanisms, massage therapy offers a multifaceted approach to pain relief, making it an invaluable part of any pain management plan.

3. Improves Sleep

Massages can significantly improve your sleep quality, both immediately and in the days following your session. Aside from lowering cortisol levels and reducing pain, massage helps with rest by regulating your sleep patterns.

Massage encourages the production of melatonin, the hormone that governs our sleep-wake cycle. Serotonin acts as a precursor to melatonin, so the serotonin-boosting ability of massage indirectly promotes melatonin production, leading to more restful and uninterrupted sleep.

4. Increases Flexibility and Range of Motion

Massage therapy can improve your flexibility and range of motion by relaxing muscles, connective tissues, and tendons; increasing muscle elasticity through manual manipulation; mobilizing joints; and stimulating blood flow, which helps deliver essential nutrients to tissues, supporting their recovery and flexibility.

These benefits might be particularly important for athletes and those with physically demanding jobs. However, massage therapy can still play an important role in maintaining the health and comfort of everyone’s muscles and tissues, ensuring you can continue enjoying your favorite activities.

5. Increases Immunity

One of the more surprising advantages of body massage is its ability to increase the strength of your immune system. Massage helps you get more rejuvenating sleep, which is a crucial time for the body’s repair processes and infection-fighting capabilities.

Massage also improves circulation, which benefits the immune system. The bloodstream transports various immune cells that are essential in fighting off infections. Certain massage techniques stimulate the lymph nodes, improving the flow of lymph, another bodily fluid containing white blood cells that help fight infections.

6. Decreases Depression and Anxiety

In addition to reducing stress and pain, the endorphins released during a massage can help ease symptoms of depression and anxiety. This mood-enhancing effect is further boosted by the release of serotonin and dopamine.

Massage therapy also activates specific brain pathways that regulate the nervous system, leading to a reduction in the body’s stress response. Studies suggest that this modulation of neurotransmitters may also help decrease inflammation, which can play a major role in mood disorders like depression.

7. Reduces Symptoms of Various Other Health Conditions

Massage therapy improves circulation, which means more oxygen and nutrients reach the muscles, while more waste products exit the body. This improved blood flow, along with other mechanisms of massage, benefits a variety of medical conditions:

Diabetes: Massage can reduce the risk of complications such as foot ulcers and lower blood glucose to healthier levels.
Cardiovascular conditions: Massage may be helpful for those with coronary artery disease, heart failure, or hypertension, as it increases circulation and lowers blood pressure.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD): Improved circulation can soothe symptoms like leg pain and cramping.
Varicose veins: Better circulation can reduce discomfort and potentially prevent worsening of varicose veins.
Kidney diseases: Massage supports healthy kidney function, reduces pain and fatigue associated with kidney disease.
Arthritis: Increased blood flow can lessen inflammation and pain while reducing stiffness in the joints.
Cognitive disorders: Improved circulation to the brain may slow the progression of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.

Conclusion

Considering all these health benefits, massage therapy is definitely worth exploring. Whether you’re looking for pain relief, increased immunity, or alleviation of other symptoms, a massage can provide much-needed relief. Whether you opt for a licensed massage therapist or a high-tech massage chair, you’re sure to find the benefits of massage therapy to be invaluable.

References:

[Insert your references here]

The post 7 Health Benefits of Body Massage: What are the Advantages of Massage Therapy? appeared first on Alternative Medicine Magazine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is holistic medicine safe?

Holistic Medicine is not as hazardous as you might think. However it does come with a few risks. Side effects most commonly include headaches and nausea. These side effects can be difficult to understand and must be weighed against the benefits offered by alternative treatments such acupuncture.

However, there are no known cases of death due to the use of holistic medicines.

Talk to your doctor before you begin any new treatment plan.

Why is alternative medicine important

Alternative treatments are becoming more popular as they’re cheaper and more effective than traditional therapies. Patients have sometimes died after receiving these treatments. This could be due to allergic reactions or side effects. There are also alternatives that may be more effective.

Alternate medicines can be dangerous, especially if you don’t know enough to choose the best ones. Vitamin supplements, such as vitamin pills, are not controlled like pharmaceuticals. Therefore, it is possible to overdose. Worse, alternative remedies may contain toxic chemicals.

Complementary and Alternative Healthcare – Is it Evidence-based

Although evidence for complementary and other medicine is still being developed, there are many benefits to these treatments. You might have tried traditional treatments and found them ineffective. Or you may be looking for an alternative treatment because it has more benefits than conventional care. Alternative and complementary medicine may be an option. This is part of a holistic approach. Always check with your doctor to ensure that any complementary and/or alternative medicines you take are supported scientifically. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if a treatment is effective. It can save you both time and money.

Is holistic medicine legitimate?

Both yes and no. Yes. There are many medications that have been proven to be effective against various conditions. They don’t cure all ailments. It all depends what you mean “holistic.” If it means taking into account all aspects of an individual’s health, then yes, but if it just means using natural remedies over chemical ones then no.

Some claim holistic medicine was around since ancient times. But this is simply untrue. Although there were some natural remedies used by healers in ancient Egypt or Rome, these practitioners did not have scientific knowledge.

It wasn’t until after the Middle Ages that medical doctors began to study anatomy. The majority of Western countries had built public hospitals by the 19th century that allowed trained doctors to offer medical care.

Conventional medicine has become the dominant form for healthcare. Many people still prefer alternative and complementary medicine. Many people find that alternative medicine works better than pharmaceutical drugs.

For instance, massage therapy can make people feel more at ease than tranquilizers. Others prefer healthy eating to prescription medication. Others find that exercise is essential for peak performance.

What are the five alternative medical systems?

These five alternative medicine systems are Ayurveda (acupuncture), Ayurveda (homeopathy), energy healing, aromatherapy, and homeopathy.

Acupuncture uses fine needles placed in specific points of the body to stimulate qi flow throughout the body.

Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient system for health care that balances the three major humors, water, fire, and air. It includes diet, exercise as well as herbal remedies, massage and meditation.

Homeopathic Medicine gets its name from the Greek word homoios (similar) and pathos (disease). Homeopaths believe every disease has natural causes. But not all symptoms. They use minute amounts of substances to treat their patients. These symptoms are very similar to what the patient experiences when they are sick.

Energy Healing can also be known by the names Reiki, EFT Rolfing and Therapeutic Touch. This therapy is based on the belief that each person is connected to a universal life force called Ki. Feeling well is possible when the Ki flows freely through you. Energy healers use touch and intention to help restore balance and harmony between our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual selves.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils from plants to treat ailments. Aromatherapists believe that certain smells can affect mood and behavior. Lavender is one of the most used essential oils in aromatherapy.

What’s the difference between holistic medicine, traditional medicine, and holistic?

Traditional medicine concentrates on the treatment of symptoms, while holistic medicine addresses the entire person. Holistic medicine focuses on the whole person and not just one aspect of a patient’s health.

Traditional medicine treats only certain organs or systems (such the brain), while holistic medicine looks at all aspects of the body, from the inside out. It considers the impact of lifestyle choices on overall wellness.

Where can I get more information on holistic medicine?

Holistic medicine refers to a way of treating the whole person, rather than just one area. It considers all aspects of a patient’s life, including physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Holistic medicine’s goal is to treat the whole person rather than just individual symptoms. Holistic medicine is not about curing the disease. It promotes healing.

Holistic medicine encompasses preventive measures, nutrition, and treatment for chronic conditions such arthritis and diabetes.

There are many different types of holistic medicine:

Acupuncture
Aromatherapy
Ayurveda
Chiropractic medicine
Homeopathy
Herbalism
Naturopathy
Nutrition
Osteopathic medicine
Vedic medicine
Yoga

Statistics

An assessment of conventional treatments found that 41.3% concluded positive or possibly positive effects, 20% concluded no effect, 8.1% concluded net harmful effects, and 21.3% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
The concept of regression toward the mean implies that an extreme result is more likely to be followed by a less extreme result. (en.wikipedia.org)
The use of alternative medicine in the US has increased, with a 50 percent increase in expenditures and a 25 percent increase in the use of alternative therapies between 1990 and 1997 in America. (en.wikipedia.org)
According to a 2005 book by a US [116]Institute of Medicine panel, the number of RCTs focused on CAM has risen dramatically. (en.wikipedia.org)
These studies found that 38.4% concluded positive or possibly positive effects for CAM (12.4%), 4.8% concluded no effect, 0.7% concluded harmful effects, and 56.6% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)

External Links

How To

What are the four types of complementary and alternate medicine?

There are four major types of CAM: mind-body medicine (natural products), manipulative therapies (energy healing), and manipulative therapies (natural products). Mind-body medicine encompasses yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki and massage therapy. It also includes homeopathy, homeopathy, aromatherapy (reflexology), naturopathy biofeedback, Hypnosis, hypnosis, and chiropractic care. Natural products include herbs, vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements, and botanicals. Manipulative treatments include physical manipulations, including acupuncture, chiropractic, and osteopathic treatment. Praying and visualization are two of the methods used to heal energy.

CAM is a general term that covers many health practices not covered by Western medical models. These practices differ in how much scientific evidence they have, whether they involve drugs, surgery, or which conditions they treat. Some CAM doctors also provide diagnostic testing (e.g. Blood tests) and can prescribe medication. Some do both.

These four categories are not the only ones. There are many subcategories within each one. Mind-body medicine includes relaxation techniques, mindfulness training and guided imagery. It also includes self-hypnosis, meditation, qigong and Tai chi. Natural products include nutritional supplements, botanical remedies, homeopathic remedies and essential oils. Manual, movement or traction can be used to manipulate the body. There are spiritual healing modalities such as prayer and faith healing within energy healing.

Many CAM treatments help symptoms without addressing the cause of the disease. Some chronic diseases might be relieved by CAM. If used properly, CAM can be combined with conventional treatments.

There are many reasons why people use CAM:

To improve their overall well being.
To manage a condition.
To reduce pain or discomfort.
To prevent illness.
To promote wellness.
To address a person’s belief system.

Some people use CAM to have more control over their own health than traditional medicine. They may believe it has fewer side effects. Others opt for CAM to avoid prescription medication. Others prefer to avoid taking pharmaceuticals whenever possible. Many people also seek out CAM because of bad experiences with traditional medicine.

Some people who use CAM want to know what they are doing before they try something new. Many CAM users have questions about safety and effectiveness. Others rely on friends and family for word of mouth.

Although CAM may be seen as a negative thing in society, most people who use it report positive feelings. People who use CAM are healthier and happier than those that don’t. This holds true regardless your age, gender or race.

The majority of Americans use some form of complementary and alternative medicine. Nearly all adults–95%–use one type of CAM at least once during their lifetime. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health – NCCIH, approximately 40,000,000 visits were made to CAM providers alone in 2010.

The NCCIH estimates 10 percent of the U.S. populace uses chiropractors.

The American Medical Association has reaffirmed its support to integrative medicine in 2013, It stated that doctors should incorporate scientifically validated complementary and alternative medicine into their clinical practice to meet patients’ expectations and needs.

The Institute of Medicine published a landmark 2007 report called “Relating Constraints” that concluded that there was no evidence to support the claim that any particular CAM intervention can prevent, treat, cure, or cure cancer.

CAM continues its popularity despite the fact that it has been proven to be very popular. 2008 saw a 8 percent increase in the number of CAM professionals compared to 2007.

A recent study found that almost half of the respondents reported using CAM as part of their primary healthcare regimen.

CAM therapies can include natural products, mind/body practices, manipulative methods, energy healing techniques, exercise, dietary supplementation, and other approaches.

Many CAM therapies can be used for pain relief, but many have other benefits such as improved mood, reduced stress and increased immunity.

For example, acupuncture can help relieve chronic back pain, reduce anxiety and depression, improve immune function, promote weight loss and improve menstrual symptoms.

Many CAM treatments are based on traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, and their roots go back thousands of years.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which originated in China 5,000 years back, has been practiced in China ever since.

TCM is an important component of modern health care.

TCM treatment is now used by over 70% of American citizens.

Yoga is another popular CAM remedy. Yoga was first developed in India around 5000 B.C. and is now embraced worldwide.

Yoga has become increasingly popular with the general public because it offers physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits.

Yoga can reduce stress, increase flexibility, and improve strength. It also helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Yoga has been shown to improve sleep33, even though there is not much scientific evidence. It may also be beneficial for insomnia sufferers.

Other CAM therapies are also gaining acceptance in mainstream medicine, including meditation, homeopathy, and aromatherapy.

One of the most common types of CAM used today is herbal medicine.

Herbal medicines contain herbs, spices, flowers, seeds, fruits, mushrooms, bark, leaves, roots, and stems.

They are often considered safer options to pharmaceutical drugs, and they are widely used by customers.

The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health estimates that about 90 million Americans use some form of complementary/alternative medicine.

The American Cancer Society reports that 45% (or more) of those diagnosed with cancer have used alternative medicines during their illness.

The National Institutes of Health has estimated that 60% of patients with breast cancer use CAM. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that around 50% of all cancer survivors reported using CAM.

According to a recent survey, 51% reported that they used at least one type (CAM) of CAM.

However, only 8 percent of those individuals had discussed this with their doctors.

This is a serious problem with healthcare delivery because there is not enough communication between conventional medical practitioners and CAM users.

–

——————————————————————————————————————————————

This blog is a source of general information and discussion on health and related topics. Information and materials on this blog, on the website, or in any of the connected materials are not intended to replace or used as a substitute for the advice of a medical professional, diagnosis, or treatment. This blog does not represent the application of any nursing, medical or other health professional advice or diagnosis. We are unable to diagnose health conditions, offer second opinions or provide specific treatment recommendations via this blog or on our website.

If you or another person is suffering from a medical issue and you are concerned, consult your doctor or seek out other medical professional treatment as soon as possible. Do not disregard medical advice from a professional or delay seeking it due to information you seen on the blog or website or in any of the linked materials. If you’re experiencing an emergency medical situation, dial 911 or seek emergency medical assistance on the closest phone immediately.